FDA and CDC recommend the federal government pause the Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Photo: AP/Mary Altaffer

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the U.S. government “pause” the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to recent blood clots.

According to the joint statement, six women between the ages of 18 and 48, experienced blood clots 13 days after taking the vaccine. One has died, and another remains in critical condition.

“Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, deputy director of the CDC, and Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

Almost 7 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S. so far, but scientists wants people not to panic because of the high efficacy still in good shape.

As of 4/12, 6.8m+ doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S. CDC & FDA are reviewing data involving 6 reported U.S. cases of a rare & severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine. Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) April 13, 2021

Pausing the vaccine will allow the medical field to investigate those blood clots cases and prevent possible abnormalities in other patients.

However, health experts recommend anyone who has taken the J&J vaccine to see their doctor if they experience one or more of the following symptoms:

Severe headache
Abdominal pain
Shortness of breath
Leg pain

Meanwhile, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients estimated that the J&J pause will not harm the vaccination campaign because the U.S. government has enough doses from other pharmaceuticals to immunize most Americans.

“Based on actions taken by the President earlier this year, the United States has secured enough Pfizer and Moderna doses for 300 million Americans,” said Zients. “This is more than enough supply to continue the current pace of vaccinations of 3 million shots per day, and meet the President’s goal of 200 million shots by his 100th day in office.”

Due to the FDA and CDC recommendations, Washington, New York, Ohio, and Kentucky are among others to pause the J&J vaccine until further notice.

Last updated on April 13, 2021 by Ramón Warini